A woman Self Help Group (SHG) in Chhattisgarh's Korea district earned Rs 15 lakh during the Covid-19 pandemic by selling face masks and tree guards, its leader told Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday.
President of Ekta Mahila SHG of Patna Gram Panchayat Heena Begum provided the information during a virtual interaction with Baghel.
She said when there was no employment opportunities during the Covid-induced lockdown, the women got the job of manufacturing face masks from the state government.
The group made 25,000 masks and sold them for Rs 3 lakh, earning a profit of Rs 1.5 lakh. The group also produced tree guards and sold them for about Rs 12 lakh and made a profit of Rs 3 lakh. Ten women members earned Rs 30,000 each.
Baghel said that earlier tree guards were made of steel. His government has decided that now on they will be made of bamboo through self-help groups.
"Your group is a living example of success... Spread the experiences as much as possible at your level so that more women become financially empowered."